Overview

Pros

Good images and color

Quick shutter and AF

Selection of manual controls for enthusiasts

Cons

No built-in EVF

Pricey

Some rolling shutter in video

Quick Take

The Lumix GX1 is a premium compact system camera with a lot to like, including a 16 megapixel sensor and 1080 HD video. Performance is as good as anything we've seen before in Panasonic's high-quality G series.

Announced in November and scheduled to appear in the US market in mid-December of last year, the Panasonic Lumix GX1 is the latest mirrorless interchangeable lens addition to the Panasonic G series of digital cameras. While the “GX” designation is a new addition to the line whose models include “G”, “GF” and “GH” prefixes, Panasonic’s press release “…expects the camera to please photo enthusiasts who have been eager for a technology upgrade comparable to the LUMIX DMC-GF1…” a camera to which the GX1 bears a strong family resemblance.

More than just a follow-on to the GF1, Panasonic is also market segmenting their mirrorless offerings by describing the GX series as the new premium line of their compact system cameras.

The GX1 features the micro four thirds lens mount and sensor, in this case a 16 megapixel live MOS sensor and Venus Engine processor. The camera has a 160-12800 ISO sensitivity range, and as with all Four Thirds/Micro Four Thirds system cameras a 2x crop factor (35mm equivalent). The camera can capture still images in JPEG, RAW or RAW/JPEG formats and video in full 1080 HD resolution. The GX1 uses a contrast autofocus (AF) system that includes a new AF flexible (AFF) mode that locks focus with a half push of the shutter button but then automatically re-adjusts the focus point if the subject moves. The 3.0-inch LCD monitor offers a touch control interface that can be used to set focus and trip the camera shutter.

Intelligent auto (iA) and intelligent auto plus (iA+) modes offer fully automatic shooting for both still and video capture along with scene and creative control modes – full manual controls are also available.

Video recording is a one-step operation via a dedicated video capture button and the camera accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC memory media including UHS-1 standard SDHC/SDXC cards. Lens compatibility includes Lumix G lenses as well as any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds System standard via an optional mount adapter.

Panasonic includes a battery and charger, body cap, USB connection cable, shoulder strap and CD-ROM software with each camera. The GX1 is slated to be offered in black and silver variants as a body only, in kit form paired with powered or manual zoom versions of the Lumix 14-42mm lens or as a two lens kit adding the Lumix 14mm prime lens to the manual zoom.

MSRP for the body only is $700; the body with 14-42 power zoom lens is $950 while the body and the 14-42 manual zoom are $800. No price was given for the double lens kit.